summary: A new study offers promising prospects for the mental health of survivors of childhood physical abuse, with almost two-thirds reporting being ‘mentally thriving’.
This study highlights the amazing resilience of this population. However, the study also highlights that survivors still report lower psychological well-being than the general population, highlighting the need for targeted trauma-based mental health interventions. there is
Chronic pain has been identified as an important factor affecting mental health, further highlighting the need for a holistic approach to support survivors.
Important facts:
- About 63% of adults who survive childhood physical abuse are in perfect mental health, or “mentally healthy.”
- Despite encouraging findings, survivors of physical abuse still report lower levels of psychological well-being (63%) than the general population (75%).
- Chronic pain was found to have a significant impact on the relationship between physical abuse and complete mental health, highlighting the need for a holistic approach.
sauce: University of Toronto
New study published online Reviews of Children and Youth Services They found that about two-thirds (63%) of adults who survive childhood physical abuse are in perfect mental health (also called psychologically sound).
“This is a very encouraging finding for survivors of childhood physical abuse,” said lead author Factor Inwentash, Professor of Social Work at the University of Toronto and Director of the Life Course and Aging Institute. Esme Fuller Thomson says.
“Our findings show that many individuals with a history of physical abuse achieve higher levels of life satisfaction and psychological well-being. It highlights the resilience that should be.”
Using data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health, the researchers compared a nationally representative sample of 853 Canadians with a history of physical abuse during childhood and their history of abuse. We compared 17,216 respondents who did not.
To be considered in full mental health, participants had to report: 1) free from mental illness (e.g., substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies) in the previous year; 2) happiness or life satisfaction nearly every day during the past month; and 3) high social and psychological well-being during the past month.
The researchers intended respondents who had been exposed to childhood sexual abuse or parental domestic violence in order to untangle the negative effects of childhood physical abuse from the often concurrent childhood adversity. explicitly excluded.
Although the findings are encouraging, they still found higher rates of psychological growth among people who had never been physically abused as children.
“75% of the general population reported being in perfect mental health, but only 63% of childhood physical abuse survivors,” co-author and University of Toronto Dalarana School of Public Health graduate says Candace Rickman of
“We hope these findings will support the development of more effective interventions for this population, ultimately promoting the well-being of survivors.”
“Respondents who had been depressed at any point in their lives were significantly less likely to be psychologically thriving,” co-authors of the University of Toronto’s Factor Inwentash School of Social Work Research assistant Andy McNeill says.
“This underscores the importance of trauma-based mental health interventions for this population. We have solid evidence for.”
Chronic pain also had a significant impact on the relationship between physical abuse and complete mental health.
“Complete mental health examinations facilitate a more holistic understanding of mental health beyond the presence or absence of mental illness,” says Fuller-Thomson.
“It is essential to consider physical factors such as chronic pain when supporting the mental health of abuse survivors.”
About this mental health research news
author: Dale Duncan
sauce: University of Toronto
contact: Dale Duncan – University of Toronto
image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original research: Findings are displayed below Reviews of Children and Youth Services
